8 steps to greener meetings

To celebrate Avery Green Office Week Maxine Reynolds, Green Champion for the venue at BMA House, shares her eight steps to greener meetings for summer.

Go digital
One of the simplest things you can do is remove the need for paper by doing everything digitally – this is 2016 after all! Distribute materials electronically and use digital signage to guide guests, not paper ones. Encourage delegates to use apps such as Evernote instead of notepads.

Reduce, reuse, recycle
Choose a venue that adopts a healthy recycling policy. At the end of the day they are the ones with the biggest influence on whether your event is green or not. When your meeting is over they will decide what happens to leftover packaging, food and materials.

Location, location, location
Select locations with better transport links so delegates don’t have to rely on taxis; doing so will substantially reduce the collective emissions of the meeting.

Use caterers that care
Ensure the caterers use produce that’s both locally and sustainably sourced. Don’t be afraid to quiz them – how far do their vegetables travel and is their packaging recyclable?

Let there be light
Look for spaces offering natural light in order to reduce electricity needs. Not only is this better for the environment but better for your delegates – there’s nothing like a boost of vitamin D to reenergise.

Step outside
Choose an outdoor space for energising breaks. Does the venue have a garden or courtyard, or is it near a park? That way your delegates can enjoy some fresh air and you reduce the need to blast out energy consuming air-conditioning on hotter days.

No water waste
Find a venue that filters its own water onsite and also offers watering stations; this reduces delegates’ reliance on bottled water.

Genuinely green?
Finally, it is important to pick a venue that is genuinely committed to helping the environment. Choose one that has been accredited by an external organisation that recognises sustainable practices.

BMA House is a Silver rating member of the Green Tourism business scheme, valuing sustainable practices. This means they take small steps each day to be environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically viable to minimise impact on the planet.

The Grade II-listed venue located in Bloomsbury offers 25 spaces for meetings and conferences for up to 294. This includes two magnificent outdoor areas – the Courtyard and the beautiful Garden.

Find out more about BMA Houses’ green credentials at bmahouse.org.uk